Frequently Asked Questions

A building permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of any commercial or residential building or structure. This includes:

• Accessory Buildings
• Curb Cuts
• Pools
• Signs
• Other Projects and Repairs to Be Determined by the Building Official

If you have to get rid of your pet for any reason, there are many options available. You can advertise in the local newspaper or on the radio. Most newspapers and radio stations offer free advertisements for pet giveaway. Local supermarkets have bulletin boards and allow pet owners to place flyers on these. Animal Control also has two bulletin boards. One is located inside the building and the other is located outside on the Southern wall. 

If none of these resources work or if you must give your pet away immediately, you can do an owner impound at Animal Control for a $20 fee. If you do an owner impound please bring any shot records, vet records, and tags for your pet. These can greatly increase the chance of adoption for you pet.

Visit Animal Control at:
2910 N Florida Avenue
Alamogordo, NM 88310

For more information, call Animal Control at 575-439-4330.

Animal Control welcomes and appreciates volunteers. To volunteer just pick up an application at Animal Control, fill it out, and we will contact you when your application has been approved. Volunteers are used primarily to socialize the animals. This helps prepare them for adoption and also gives them the attention that is important for any prospective pet. Volunteers can also walk dogs and assist with adoptions. Volunteers can choose the hours they work between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., 7 days a week. Any time spent volunteering is greatly appreciated.

Pick up an application at:
2910 N Florida Avenue
Alamogordo, NM 88310

For more information, call Animal Control at 575-439-4330.

A building permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of any commercial or residential building or structure. This includes:

• Accessory Buildings
• Curb Cuts
• Pools
• Signs
• Other Projects and Repairs to Be Determined by the Building Official

Cosmetic alterations including (but not limited to): paint, trim, floors, tile, etc.

A building permit must be taken out before construction begins on any project.

Commercial construction requires the permit to be taken out by a contractor who is licensed by the State of New Mexico and currently holds a New Mexico State License and if their business is located in the City of Alamogordo they will be required to hold a City of Alamogordo Business License.

Residential construction permits can either be taken out by a homeowner who owns and occupies the single family residence in question or by a licensed contractor (who currently holds a New Mexico State License).

Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical permits shall only be obtained by licensed contractors (who currently hold a New Mexico State License).

The City of Alamogordo no longer issues building permits, however any work that is being done within the City limits of Alamogordo will need to come through our office for an Ordinance Review.

Yes. Animal Control accepts and deeply appreciates all donations. We accept:

• Aluminum cans
• Animal treats
• Blankets
• Cat litter
• Monetary donations
• Newspapers
• Pet food
• Pet toys

With monetary donations, please be specific about what you would like it to be used for, for example: food, vet care, equipment, adoption assistance, etc. For more information, call Animal Control at 575-439-4330.

Animal Control welcomes and appreciates volunteers. To volunteer, pick up an application at Animal Control. Once the application is returned we will contact you when it has been approved. 

Volunteers are used primarily to socialize the animals. Socialization helps prepare the animals for adoption and also gives them the attention that is important for any prospective pet.

Volunteers can also walk dogs and assist with adoptions. Volunteers can choose the hours they work between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.7 days a week. Any time spent volunteering is greatly appreciated.

Pick up an application at:
2910 N Florida Avenue
Alamogordo, NM 88310

For more information, call Animal Control at 575-439-4330.

Unfortunately we are not allowed to handle calls outside of our jurisdiction, so you must call the Otero County Sheriffs Office at 575-437-2210.

Animal Control is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 12:00 pm (noon) until 5:00 pm. 

For more information, call Animal Control at 575-439-4330.

We have Animal Control Officers on duty from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm, seven days a week. One officer is on call 24 hours a day for emergencies. If you have a complaint please call 575-439-4330 and someone will assist you.

Animal Control is located at 2910 North Florida at the intersection of Florida and Fairgrounds Road. For more information, call Animal Control at 575-439-4330.

You have a few options. If you feel comfortable with the animal you can keep it and contact Animal Control the following day, or you can take the animal to Animal Control and place it in one of the drop off cages on the North side of the building. If you are unable to keep the animal or transport it to Animal Control, then you can call the police department's non emergency number, 575-439-4300, and they will dispatch the on-call Animal Control Officer to your location for pickup.

Yes. Contact Animal Control at 575-439-4330 and they can lend you a live trap along with instructions on how to set and bait the trap. Once a skunk is caught call 575-439-4330 and an officer will be sent to retrieve the skunk.

Yes. Contact Animal Control at 575-439-4330 and they will lend you a live trap along with instructions on how to set and bait the trap. Once a cat is trapped call 576-439-4330. An officer will be sent to retrieve the cat.

If the bats are on the outside of your home, doorway, eaves, etc. we can attempt to capture the bats. If they are located inside your residence, you will have to contact a local pest control agency. For more information, call Animal Control at 575-439-4330.

If the bees are on private property, the property owner should call a pest control company. If they are on public property, Animal Control will come out and do an assessment of the location of the bees and whether they pose a danger to the public. Once this is done Animal Control will contact the proper authorities to remove the bees if necessary. For more information, call Animal Control at 575-439-4330.

Medical Attention

If you feel the bite is serious, seek medical attention immediately. Whether you go to a doctor’s office or the hospital emergency room, they will contact Animal Control to report the bite and an Animal Control Officer will be dispatched immediately.

Vaccinations

If you do not seek medical attention you may call Animal Control and an officer will be dispatched. The officer will locate the animal and verify whether it has a current rabies vaccination. If the animal does not have current vaccinations it will be impounded and quarantined for 10 days. You will be informed if anything out of the ordinary is observed during the quarantine period. You will also be contacted by an officer approximately 10 days after the bite during a follow up to ensure that you are recovering satisfactorily.

More Information

For more information or if you are bit by an animal, call Animal Control at 575-439-4330.

Contact a local pest control agency for assistance in removal of the pigeons.

Yes. Animal Control officers will respond to snake calls within the city limits. Officers will capture and release it back to the wild in an unpopulated area. For more information, call Animal Control at 575-439-4330.

There is a city ordinance that requires all dogs and cats that reside in the city limits to be licensed. The city license aides Animal Control officers in ensuring that dogs and cats receive their rabies vaccination (rabies vaccination is required to purchase a license.) The city license is also a valuable tool used by Animal Control to locate owners of stray pets. For more information, call Animal Control at 575-439-4330.

If you feel the bite is serious, seek medical attention immediately. Whether you go to a doctor’s office or the hospital emergency room, they will contact Animal Control to report the bite and an Animal Control officer will be dispatched immediately. If you do not seek medical attention you may call Animal Control at 575-439-4330 and an Officer will be dispatched.

The Officer will locate the animal and verify whether it has a current rabies vaccination. If the animal does not have current vaccinations it will be impounded and quarantined for 10 days. You will be informed if anything out of the ordinary is observed during the quarantine period. You will also be contacted by an Officer approximately 10 days after the bite during a follow up to ensure that you are recovering satisfactorily.

Yes, this is true. Cats must follow the same ordinances as dogs. They must be kept on a leash when not indoors or in an enclosed fence. For more information, call Animal Control at 575-439-4330.

Contact Animal Control by calling 575-439-4330 and they will send an officer to do a welfare check on the dog. The officer will check to see if the dog is in distress and requires immediate vet care. He will also check for the presence of food, water, and adequate shelter. The officer will make contact with the owner of the dog and check for current rabies vaccination and city license. The officer will then determine what steps are necessary to ensure the health and welfare of the dog.

Your first step would be to go to Animal Control and identify your pet. After this is done, you will need proof of current rabies vaccination and city license. If your pet is not current on these, you will have to purchase these from Animal Control. If your pet has not been spayed or neutered, you will also have to pay for this procedure to be done, unless your pet is registered by a recognized organization such as the American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, etc.

Visit Animal Control at: 2910 N Florida Avenue, Alamogordo, NM 88310

For more information, call Animal Control at 575-439-4330.

You can purchase a replacement city license from Animal Control for $1. Replacement rabies tags will have to be purchased from your veterinarian. For more information, call Animal Control at 575-439-4330.

You can contact one of the local veterinarian clinics to see if they offer disposal services, or you can contact Animal Control at 575-439-4330. Animal control will pick up your deceased pet for a $5 charge or you can bring it directly to Animal Control free of charge. If you bring it to Animal Control please call in advance.

Animal Control is located at 2910 N Florida Avenue, Alamogordo, NM 88310

Contact a local pest control agency for assistance in removal of the pigeons.

Contact Animal Control by calling 575-439-4330 and an officer will be dispatched to the home where the dog resides. The officer will attempt to make contact with the animal's owner to resolve the problem. If the residents are not home a door tag will be left requesting them to contact the officer. If the dog is barking after hours you may contact the Alamogordo Police Department at 575-439-4300 and they will send an officer to make contact with the residents.

If you have to get rid of your pet for any reason, there are many options available. You can advertise in the local newspaper or on the radio. Most newspapers and radio stations offer free advertisements for pet giveaway. Local supermarkets have bulletin boards and allow pet owners to place flyers on these.

Animal Control also has two bulletin boards. One is located inside the building and the other is located outside on the Southern wall. If none of these resources work or if you must give your pet away immediately, you can do an owner impound at Animal Control for a $20 fee. If you do an owner impound please bring any shot records, vet records, and tags for your pet. These can greatly increase the chance of adoption for you pet.

Visit Animal Control is located at 2910 N Florida Avenue, Alamogordo, NM 88310

For more information, call Animal Control at 575-439-4330.

We are located at:
1376 E Ninth Street
Alamogordo, NM 88310

We are between Oregon and Washington Boulevards on the south side of Ninth Street. 

Our hours are:
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday - Friday

City Hall is closed for observation of the following holidays:

• New Year’s Day
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• President’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving The Friday following Thanksgiving (Veterans’ Day Observed)
• Christmas Day

Z-Trans is operated by the Zia Therapy Center in conjunction with the City of Alamogordo. It serves Alamogordo, Holloman AFB, La Luz, Tularosa, Mescalero and Las Cruces. For up-to-date information on the three routes and their schedules, you may contact them by phone at 575-439-4971 or visit at:
900 First Street
Alamogordo, NM 88310

If you or your spouse are 60 years of age or older, you may join the Senior Center. Call 575-439-4150 or visit the Senior Center Website for more information. The City appreciates a $10.00 donation for registering as a member.

View the outdoor watering schedule to see when you can water your lawn.

Contact Customer Service Department by phone, email or in person at City Hall. 

575-439-4260

coacis@ci.alamogordo.nm.us

1376 E Ninth Street
Alamogordo, NM 88310

Monthly billing varies with meter size and monthly usage. To begin service, residents will need to complete the Utility Service Application and pay an account processing fee plus tax. Renter accounts will also be required to pay a deposit at time of application.  

Call the City Clerk’s office at 575-439-4100 or visit the City Commission page for a district map, which includes Commissioners’ contact information.

Anyone operating any for-profit business must register with the City. Obtain an application at City Hall or print the Business Registration Application and return it to City Hall.

Regular trash is picked up twice a week; however, if you have oversized items for pick-up, you need to call your trash collection company to schedule a pick-up. The number for Southwest Disposal Corp is 575-434-1109.

You may contact Public Works to report a water outage at 575-439-4244 during regular business hours. After hours, contact 575-439-4300.

Or click HERE to do an online report.

Public Service announcements are given on the local radio stations, are printed in the Alamogordo Daily News, are posted on this website and posted to the City's Facebook Page. You may contact Public Works to report a water outage at 575-439-4244 during regular business hours. After hours, contact 575-439-4300

The City Community Services Department publishes an annual booklet that contains scheduled activities for the entire year. This publication is updated every May. You may get information from the calendar posted on this website, call 575-439-4142 or visit the Recreation Center at:
1100 Oregon Avenue
Alamogordo, NM 88310

The Recreation Center is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays.

The Commission generally meets in the Commission Chambers at City Hall at 1376 E. Ninth Street. View the Commission Meeting Calendar (PDF).

You may request a copy of the City budget by completing a request form at the City Clerk’s office and paying a nominal fee for the copies. The City operates on a July to June fiscal year with public budget hearings held in May at a City facility announced in the Alamogordo Daily News.
You may view Finance Documents (PDF).

Suggestions of any nature may be turned in to the City Clerk at:
City Hall
1376 E Ninth Street
Alamogordo, NM 88310

Or send feedback to Alamogordo.

Call Animal Control at 575-439-4330 or visit their office:

2910 N Florida Avenue
Alamogordo, NM 88310

Call Southwest Disposal at 575-434-1109 to schedule a pick-up date and time.

Call the City Clerk’s Office at 575-439-4100. They will want to know the nature of the complaint so they can direct your call to the correct department or person. Or take the citizen opinion and feedback survey to send feedback.

The Otero County Treasurer collects property tax. Contact their office by calling 575-437-2030, or go to 

1000 N New York Avenue
Alamogordo, NM 88310

You can also visit their website for more information.

You may register at the Otero County Clerk’s office:

1104 N White Sands Boulevard, Suite C
Alamogordo, NM 88310

If the "Penalty Assessment" box is marked at the bottom of your citation, you have 30 days to pay your fine from the date you received the citation. Find options to pay here.

In order to submit your request, simply fill out and return the Agenda Request Form (PDF) by the appropriate deadline. For a list of deadlines, view the 2021 Commission Calendar (PDF).

Visit the GIS webpage, and select Alamogordo Public Map. In the upper right hand corner click on the Layer List Icon (3rd from the left). Scroll down and check the box for "FEMA_Flood_Zones_2018". The floodplain layer will turn on after a few seconds of loading. In the upper left search box you can type in an address and the map will zoom in to that location. You can also contact the Planning and Zoning Department at 575-439-4220 or email the Planning and Zoning Department.

Otero County residents, kindergarten age or older, are eligible to apply for a library card.  (Patrons under the age of 18 require signature of parent or guardian on the registration card.)

Driver's license or other picture ID with current Otero County address is required. (If driver's license is out of state, two other documents displaying local address are required.)

Visit the circulation desk in the library. Bring your photo ID and other documentation, as needed. Once your information has been verified and entered into the system, you will receive your card. This usually takes about 15 minutes. (Please note: Library cards cannot be issued within 15 minutes of closing time.)  

Nonresident cards are available for $15.00
Replacement fee for lost cards is $5.25  

The Librarians are happy to review suggestions for items to add to our collection. Visit, call, or email the reference desk to submit your suggestion to the librarians. Please include your name and library card number with submissions. Librarians use training, expertise, and experience to provide the best collection possible for our users and cannot guarantee that we will purchase all items suggested by users. Reference desk: 575.439.4148 

Yes, guests are welcome to bring their own food.

For the safety of park guests and wildlife in our care no glass containers or alcohol are allowed.

We do not have any facilities available for personal food storage.

We do not offer dining options; only small concession items.

Guests are allowed to exit and re-enter the Zoo, should they choose to go dine off site. 

If you leave the Zoo and intend to return on the same day, you must re-enter the Zoo before 4:30 pm.

No. We are unable to accommodate interviews with zoo keepers as it would take our animal care team away from their primary responsibilities to the animals.

No. Our animals are on special diets and food outside those diets can harm the animals. 

Coin operated duck food dispensers are available at the duck pond. Only the ducks at our duck pond can be fed by visitors. ($.25 quarters only.)

Yes. please visit our birthday parties page for more information.

Yes, the lost and found is located in the gift shop.

Please contact the gift shop attendant to inquire if your item was turned in. 575-439-4290

Leave complete contact information and description of item in case it is found.

Adults (Ages 13-59)         $5

Children (Ages 5-12)       $3

Children under 4             Free

Seniors (Age 60+)           $3

Active or retired Military   $3  (Must show ID, dependents are not eligible for this discount)

People under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Same day re-entry is allowed through gift shop.

We are open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. 

The gift shop is open from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. 

Last admission to the zoo is at 4:30.

We are closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day

Visitors must remain on pathways. Any fencing, rails, rocks and other barriers are there to protect both you and the animals from harm. Do not lift children over safety rails or rest them on railings. Do not play on rocks. Do not put fingers or arms through fences. Do not enter nonpublic areas.

Adults must remain with their children at all times. For the health and safety of visitors, staff and animals, the zoo prohibits smoking of any type. This includes vaping and e-cigarettes.

Pets are not allowed in the Alameda Park Zoo. The zoo is considered a quarantine facility in order to protect the health of the zoo animals.

Certified service animals, permitted under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA,) are allowed in the zoo. 

Emotional support and companion animals are not service animals and may not enter the facility.

Please do not leave your pet in your vehicle. 

Do not feed the animals. Our animals are on special diets and food outside those diets can harm the animals. 

Coin operated duck food dispensers are available at the duck pond. Only the ducks at our duck pond can be fed by visitors. ($.25 quarters only.)

Please show respect for the zoo’s inhabitants by refraining from banging on windows and throwing objects (including food) into exhibits. Do not harass, chase, or tease the animals.

Balls, frisbees, jump ropes, or any throwing/kicking toys are to be kept out of animal areas. 

The plants and vegetation throughout the zoo is there for everyone to enjoy. Please refrain from damaging our plants by pulling off leaves, flowers, and branches.  

Drones are not allowed on zoo grounds at any time.

Selfie sticks are allowed, but guests may not cross any barriers.

Items not permitted include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Animals / Pets

• Weapons (e.g. guns, knifes, razor blades, box cutters.)

• Alcohol, marijuana (including marijuana-enriched products), and any illegal substances.

• Bicycles, scooters, roller skates/blades, roller shoes, hoverboards skateboards and riding toys

• Remote control toys.

• Disruptive items (e.g. laser pointers, silly string, party poppers, fireworks, stink bombs, air horns, tools, musical instruments, megaphones, noise makers, toys that make loud noises.)

• Drones or flying toys

• Restraining devices (e.g., handcuffs, zip ties) or any suspicious items (duct tape, wire)

• Glass bottles and containers.

• Masks, costumes and other items deemed inappropriate by Zoo management

• Fires and grills

• No soliciting

• Shirts and shoes are required. No offensive or profane clothing. 

• Bags are allowed within reason, including backpacks.

This information is subject to change without notice.

• Free Wi-Fi in the gift shop
• Public restroom is located near the entrance to the zoo.
• Rentals:
  • Single Stroller       $3.50
  • Double Stroller      $5.00
  • Safari Cart            $6.50
  • Wheelchairs          FREE

(All rentals are "Frist come, First served") 

Many of our animals are early risers and may be a bit more active in the morning depending on weather conditions. There is no way to predict when animals will be more visible. 

All of our animals have the choice to meet you when they are ready.

Wildlife may be removed from public view for a variety of reasons. (e.g. environmental conditions, health issues, and behavioral concerns.) 

Many habitats are designed for animals to be able to remove themselves from view at any time. 

No refunds or exchanges in cases of inclement weather or exhibit closure. 

Guests can to call ahead to check for any changes or closures. 575-439-4290

Events are posted on our Facebook Instagram

Scheduled events can also be found on the zoo's calendar.

Regular admission prices apply to all events unless stated otherwise.

Call the zoo at 575-439-4290.

For press or media inquiries, please ask to speak to zoo manager.

The Alamogordo Fire Department offers free fire safety education classes. These classes are available to any commercial, public, private or civic group in the City of Alamogordo. Classes are held at the requesting party's location in the City of Alamogordo. For more information, visit our Fire Safety Education Class page.

By law, under the Inspection of Public Records Act, every person has the right to inspect public records of the City of Alamogordo, New Mexico. The Act also makes compliance with requests to inspect public records an integral part of the routine duties of the officers and employees of the City of Alamogordo, New Mexico. For more information on how to do this, visit our Request for Public Records page.

A secure drop box is located in the main lobby of the police station at 700 Virginia Ave. 

Pills should be placed in a clear zip lock bag, mixed together, and without bottles. 

Liquids are not accepted. Liquid medications can be poured onto coffee grounds or kitty litter, placed in a plastic grocery bag, and thrown in the common household garbage. 

To discard syringes, contact the Otero County Public Health office at 1207 8th St. or 575-437-9347. 

For more info or questions, please call 575-434-4304 or email the Alamogordo Police Department.

Reports cost $1.05 per page. We accept cash or check only. No credit cards.

Crash reports can be purchased online. BuyCrash

Incident reports can be requested online  

More information about online report requests

• Currently, the Alamogordo Police Department does not provide digital/electronic fingerprint submissions to the general public.  If digital/electronic fingerprinting is what you need, please go to the Gemalto website to register and pay.  After you are registered, you will go to Print Plus, located at 901 Texas Ave #B to be printed.
• For standard ink hard card fingerprinting, please come to the Alamogordo Police Department, located at 700 Virginia Ave. between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.  There is generally less wait time between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday through Thursday.
• Fingerprints are done for a charge of $2.10 per card.  We do not supply the cards.  Whoever is requesting that you be printed, generally will supply the cards.  If not, you can go to the FBI website and print out cards on your own card stock paper using this link: FBI Standard Fingerprint Form
• When filling out the cards, please print legibly and use BLACK INK ONLY.

We provide local background checks to citizens free of charge. This is only a check within the City of Alamogordo and within the Alamogordo Police Department.  

For county and state checks, you will need to go to each agency and request a background check from them. 

If a national background check is needed, please see the FBI website for more information. FBI Background Check Information

You can call 575-439-4300 Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:00 am - 5:00 pm to inquire about the status of your report.  Please have your report number or date of incident ready.

If this is happening during regular business hours, please contact Animal Control at (575) 439-4330

After hours, call the non-emergency line at (575) 439-4300.  Please keep in mind that there may be higher priority calls ahead of you.

You can access the City of Alamogordo's Code of Ordinances online.

All reports can be picked up at the Alamogordo Police Department during business hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.

In some cases, for an additional charge, arrangements may be made to have your reports mailed or emailed to you. 

Crash reports are also available online at the BuyCrash website.

Restraining orders and orders of protection are filed through District Court.  You can get more information and download applications from the District Court website. District Court Forms and Information

Each year the City of Alamogordo is required to publish an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report). Visit our Water Quality Report section for more information. 

Contact our Water Treatment Division Office at (575) 437-5991 during normal business hours or (575) 439-4300 outside of normal business hours.

The City of Alamogordo’s tap water is considered to be “very hard,” because of the minerals such as calcium in the rock formations from which we draw water. This water contains 34–39 grains of hardness per gallon. There are no harmful health effects associated with these minerals (in fact, some believe they are beneficial), but measuring them does provide a guideline as to how water use may be affected. For example, hard water does result in more scale buildup and you need to use more soap and detergents.

During regular business hours (7:00 am-3:30 pm), call our Water Treatment Division Office at (575) 437-5991. After hours, please call our dispatch center at (575) 439-4300. These locations handle questions and complaints regarding the odor, taste, and color of water. The cloudiness is usually the result of tiny air bubbles in the water.  If you fill a clear glass and let it sit, after a while, the bubbles rise to the top and are gone.  This occurs more often in the winter when the water is cold. Sometimes, this can be caused by a plumbing problem or the result of a recent water line failure.

If you experience discolored water, contact our Water Treatment Division Office at (575) 437-5991 during normal business hours or (575) 439-4300 outside of normal business hours. Provide us with as much information as possible, including time and date the problem started, location, and your best description of the problem.

The City of Alamogordo Water system has been in operation for more than 100 years, and some of the water mains are made of cast iron.  Whenever the water velocity or flow direction changes from normal, iron sediment from these old mains is picked up by the water and shows up as discoloration.  Incidents that can cause this include:

Fire hydrant testing – causes a temporary increase in water velocity as fire crews check hydrant operation.

Water main breaks – cause a temporary increase in flow velocity and in some cases also cause a reversal in the normal flow direction of the water.

In these situations, the water is safe to drink.  However, use care as the iron can stain laundry and plumbing fixtures.

No. If you choose to install a filter, there are some issues to keep in mind.  A water filter is like any other piece of equipment – it must be maintained.  If a filter is not properly maintained, it can break down and degrade your water quality.

Contact a Backflow Tester from our List of Approved Backflow Testers and schedule a test. Provide a copy of the letter to your Tester. After completing the test, the Tester will submit the results to the City of Alamogordo Utilities Department.

Backflow prevention assemblies have internal seals, springs, and moving parts that are susceptible to wear and failure. Annual testing ensures they are functioning properly and protecting our public water system.

Yes, however, we require you to utilize independent private contractors. The City of Alamogordo Utilities Department does not install or test backflow preventers. We only inspect them. We do require backflow tests to be performed by Testers on our List of Approved Backflow Testers.

Residential customers are only required to install a backflow preventer if the home has an in-ground irrigation system, well, or pool. It is the customer's responsibility to notify us if an irrigation system, well, or pool is installed. Backflow requirements vary for commercial customers based on the business's water use. Our staff reviews newly established commercial water accounts to assess the degree of backflow hazard and notifies businesses about backflow requirements.

Backflow is the reversal of the normal flow of water. It's caused by pressure differences and can allow contaminants from an irrigation system, boiler, or other sources to enter a home or building's plumbing system or the public water supply. Backflow prevention devices protect plumbing systems and our public water supply by preventing backflow.

A cross-connection is a link between a potable water system and a non-potable water system, in our case, the City of Alamogordo's public water lines and our customers’ private plumbing systems. Backflow can occur through cross-connections.

A sudden drop in water pressure in our public system can cause backflow. Backpressure can also cause backflow. Backpressure occurs when a building's plumbing system has higher pressure than the public water supply. Both situations can allow water and contaminants from a private plumbing system to reverse flow into the public supply, potentially contaminating the water for other users. Backflow preventers keep this from happening.

Since 1999, the City has installed residential dual check valves on every residential water service. We also require customers whose water use presents a backflow hazard to install and annually test a backflow prevention assembly according to our specifications.

Install a hose-bib vacuum breaker on each of your outside water spigots. These devices will prevent water from being back-siphoned from a hose or irrigation system into your home's plumbing. Hose-bib vacuum breakers are inexpensive and available at hardware stores.

This annual fee is assessed on each backflow prevention assembly to offset the cost of maintaining our backflow prevention program. Residential irrigation customers are exempt from this fee.

Different customers present different backflow hazards, even at the same location. If your water use is different from the last customer, contact us to schedule an assessment.

Compliance with our backflow requirements is the responsibility of the water account holder. If you are renting a commercial space, your landlord or property management company may agree to take care of the backflow installation and/or annual testing, but it is ultimately the account holder's responsibility.

We recommend contacting a licensed plumber. You can install it yourself, but it must be installed according to our specifications, and the Utilities Department will inspect it after installation. If you hire someone to install it, provide them with a copy of the letter. After completing the install, contact a Backflow Tester from our List of Approved Backflow Testers and schedule a test. Provide a copy of the letter to your Tester. After completing the test, the Tester will submit the results to the City of Alamogordo Utilities Department.

Agriculture/Farming Operations/Processing Facilities  ·  Air Conditioning Cooling Towers  ·  Aircraft Modification and Storage Facilities  ·  Airports and Airlines  ·  Apartments, Condominiums, (Bidets, Cooling Towers, Chillers, Boilers, Laundry Machines, Pools, Blow Offs)  ·  Asphalt Plants  ·  Aspirators  ·  Auto Garages  ·  Autoclaves and Sanitizers  ·  Automotive Dealers/Plants  ·  Automotive Radiator Shops Automotive Paint, Body Repair Facilities  ·  Automotive Repair Facilities  ·  Autopsy Facilities  ·  Baking Facility  ·  Beauty Salon, Barber Shops, Beauty Parlors, Beauty and Baber Schools  ·  Blood/Plasma Collection Facilities  ·  Breweries  ·  Butchers  ·  Car Wash  ·  Car and Truck Wash Facilities including Detail Services  ·  Cellar drains of the water ejector type (Water Powered)  ·  Cemetery (Excluding Office Facilities)  ·  Chemical Plants (Processing, Manufacturing, Compounding, Treatment)  ·  Chemical Storage Facilities Church/Religious Facilities (Baptisteries and Kitchens)  ·  Coin/Card-Operated Laundries  ·  Community Facilities  ·  Compressed Gas Handling and Storage Facilities  ·  Concrete Mixing Plants  ·  Convenience Stores (with Gasoline and Food Facilities)  ·  Crime Laboratories  ·  Day Care Facilities (with Food Processing)  ·  Dental Facilities/Laboratories/Buddy Systems  ·  Doctors’ Offices and Clinics  ·  Dry Cleaners (Commercial, excluding Drop off Facilities)  ·  Embalming  ·  Equipment using Water Producing Pressure  ·  Exterminating Companies  ·  Facilities using Water in Manufacturing/Processing  ·  Farms and Feedlot Operations/Hog Farm  ·  Fertilizers Plants, (Liquid and Spray Distributors)  ·  Film Processing Facilities (including One Hour Processing)  ·  Food and Beverage Processing Facilities  ·  Fire Sprinkler Systems  ·  Fuel/Oil Handling or Processing Facilities  ·  Funeral Homes/Parlors, Morgues and Mortuaries  ·  Gardening/Horticulture, Composting  ·  Gas Stations (and/or Mini Marts with Soda Dispensing Machines or Coffee Lines)  ·  Grease Traps/Sewage Ejectors/Degreasing Equipment/ Garbage Grinders  ·  Grocery Stores (Raw Meat and Hazardous Waste Processing or Storage Facilities  ·  Health Care Facilities/Dockside Facilities  Health Clubs, Fitness Centers and Spas  ·  Heat Exchangers/Solar Heating System  ·  Home Improvement Stores  ·  Hospitals, Dialysis Centers  ·  Hotels and Motels  ·  Ice Processing and/or Manufacturing Facilities  ·  Incineration Facilities  ·  Irrigation Systems (Planting, Agricultural and Lawn)  ·  Jails and Penal Institutions  ·  Kennels and Pet Facilities (Animal Hospitals and Clinics)  ·  Laboratories and Research Facilities (Industrial, Commercial, Medical Research Schools/Colleges)  ·  Laundries/Laundromats (Commercial, excluding Drop off Facilities)  ·  Livestock and Animal Holding Facilities  ·  Lumber Yards/Processing Facilities  ·  Meat Markets and/or Meat Processing Facilities  ·  Medical Facilities/Offices/Labs (that administer medication), Plasma Centers  ·  Metal Manufacturing, Plating Etching, Anodizing, Passivation or Pickling Plants  ·  Mobile Homes (Trailers)/RV Parks or Campgrounds  ·  Nail Salon  ·  Nursery, Shrubbery or Garden Centers and Greenhouses  ·  Nursing Homes/Convalescent (Rehabilitation) Homes  ·  Paper and Paper Product Plants  ·  Pesticides, Weedicides, Herbicides, Distributors, Processors, Applicators  ·  Pharmacy/Drug Store  ·  Petroleum Processing and Storage Plants  ·  Poultry Operations  ·  Power Plants (Electrical Facilities)  ·  Premises with Industrial Piping Systems or Auxiliary Water Supplies/Restricted Inspections  ·  Printing Facilities (Excluding Copy Centers)  ·  Private Wells  ·  Propane, Butane Gas Handling Facility  ·  Radioactive Material Plants and Handling Facilities  ·  Railroad Yards  ·  Rain Water (Capture and Use) Systems  ·  Recreational Areas (Swimming Pools/Water Slides/Flume)  ·  Restaurants (all types), and Food Handlers  ·  Retirement/Assisted Living Centers  ·  Sand and/or Gravel Processing Plants  ·  Schools with Athletics Facilities, Labs, Kitchen, Pool, Spas  ·  Shopping Centers/Malls//Strip Malls  ·  Soda Dispensing Machine (Vending Machine)  ·  Stable for Horses/Dockside Farm  ·  Steel Processing Facilities  ·  Storage Facilities with Hazardous Materials/Scrap  ·  Supermarkets  ·  Swimming Pools (Including Multi-Tenant Facilities), Ponds and Fountains and Water Slides/Bath House  ·  Tattoo/Piercing Parlors  ·  Taxidermist  ·  Urinals (Siphon jet blowout), Trough Urinals  ·  Vending Machines  ·  Vegetable Processing Facilities  ·  Veterinary Clinics/Offices/Labs  ·  Waterhouse Facilities with hazardous materials (Toxic Chemicals, etc.)  ·  Zoos  

No. Under no circumstances are customers or their attendees permitted to bring alcohol for their reservation. Security obtained for the reservation will be responsible for checking for violations on the premises (this includes the parking lots). Anyone found to violate the alcohol policy will be subject to eviction from the reservation and the reservation may be canceled. No refunds will be administered if the reservation is canceled due to Civic Center violations.

Yes. The Civic Center has an assortment of banquet tables and a limited number of round tables available for the customer’s use.

Security is required depending on the nature of the event. Events such as wedding ceremonies/receptions, quinceañeras, holiday parties, concerts, etc. require security to be obtained from a licensed security company regardless of whether alcohol is obtained. Events with alcohol service are legally required to have security present.

Yes. The Civic Center does have a projector with an HDMI input panel, screen, speakers, and microphones.

No. Presently the Civic Center does not provide alcohol service.

No. The Sgt. Willie Estrada Memorial Civic Center does not take tentative reservations. A signed Civic Center contract and a paid 25% reservation hold are required to put a reservation on the calendar.

The Civic Center is available as early as 8 am on the day of the reservation. Accommodations may be made pending management approval.

If your reservation requires security, the Civic Center requires a minimum of three (3) security guards. The number of guards can be adjusted based on how many participants are expected to be in attendance and whether the reservation has alcohol service or not.

Yes. The customer may reserve the day before the reservation for decorating at a discounted rate. A decorating day reservation can be made if availability permits.

Customers must have a signed Civic Center contract, general liability insurance to cover the event, security service agreement (if necessary), and alcohol service agreement (if obtained).

The Civic Center requires that reservations be paid in full no more than two months before the reservation date. Failure to pay for the reservation in full will result in the cancellation of the reservation. No refunds will be administered if the reservation is canceled due to non-payment.

Those customers who wish to have alcohol served at their reservation must obtain the service through a catering company that has an active alcohol permit and licensed beverage servers.

For a run-of-the-mill introduction to the library field trip, plan for about an hour. We can always go longer depending on what elements you would like to include, and how much time you want to give your group to explore on their own. Some school groups like to pair a field trip to the library with one to Albertson’s or the Alamogordo Recreation Center, eating their lunch on our lawn in between.

Anyone! Public or private schools, day cares, after school care groups, clubs, homeschool groups, etc.

Our basic introduction field trip begins with a short chat all together in our meeting room. We talk about what the library offers, our three basic rules, and then participate in an engaging read-aloud. Spring field trips will always include a preview of our Summer Reading Program. Miss Ami or Miss Monica will explain a related craft, then the group will split: half will stay in the room to complete the craft, while the other half explores the children’s room. After a bit, the groups will switch places.

Of course, we can offer other activities to suit your needs: 

-    Very small groups (8-10 max) can get a tour of the ‘back rooms’ of the library and learn about library jobs.

-    Our reference staff (Miss Cheryl and Miss Heather) can teach basic research skills and familiarize students with the resources we have available, both in the building and online.

-    Our youth services staff (Miss Ami and Miss Monica) can present a workshop about reading aloud for older students who are peer mentors to younger students.

-    Youth services staff can teach basic library skills such as parts of books, using shelving systems (Dewey Decimal, et. al.), basic internet searches and safety.  We do not recommend combining this with an introductory field trip: while it does get kids moving with things like a scavenger hunt, it also adds a lot of listening time to the aforementioned talks.

We are also open to other ideas or needs you may have! There is no cost for library field trips.

The Alamogordo Public Library is located at 920 Oregon Ave., behind Albertson’s and between City Hall and the Alamogordo Recreation Center.

Generally speaking, we can start as early as 8 a.m. and go as late as 4:30 p.m. Saturdays may also be available. For specific date and time availability, however, you will need to contact Ami or Monica at (575) 439-4140, ext. 4157 or Cheryl or Heather at (575) 439-4148.

Miss Ami also has limited availability to come directly to your school and speak to each class, if you are unable to come for field trips at this time.

For most groups, contact Ami or Monica at (575) 439-4140, ext. 4157. For older students wanting to learn about doing research or check out our online databases, contact Cheryl or Heather at (575) 439-4148.